Apparatus for filling packages



Aug. 10, 1965 A. c. HALL ETAL 3,199,551

APPARATUS FOR FILLING PACKAGES Filed March 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l iilI IHIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIHIHIIIHIHIIJHI IIIHHI IIIllllllllll[lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll awn/2% Aug. 10, 1965A. c. HALL ETAL APPARATUS FOR FILLING PACKAGES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 22, 1965 1965 A. c. HALL ETAL 3,199,551

APPARATUS FOR FILLING- PACKAGES Filed March 22, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Archie S.

United States Patent 3,199,551 APPARATUS FUR FILLING PACKAGES Hall,Everett, Sanford K. Carlisle, Jr., Andever, Ira l3. Boynton, Lexington,and Bertram A. Fulton, Lynnfield, Mass, assignors, by direct and mesneassignments, to Diamond Crystal Salt Company, St. Clair, Mich, acorporation of Michigan Filed Mar. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 267,160 9 Claims.(Cl. 14183) The present invention broadly relates to apparatus formaking packages and more particularly, to an improved ller mechanism forfilling each of a plurality of small, dispensing packages or containerswith a pre-selected quantity of a pulverulent, fluent material. Morespecifically, the present invention is directed to an automaticallycontrolled filler apparatusfor feeding a variety of finely particulatedmaterials in the form of a continuous curtain into the upper end portionof a ribbon of rapidly moving fiuted containers, achieving thereby .acontrolled filling of the containers to a preselected height or apredetermined volume.

The present invention is particularly applicable to packaging apparatusof the general type disclosed in the Uni-ted States Patent No.2,826,020, granted March 11, 1958, wherein two Webs of a film likematerial such as paper, for example, are united, forming a plurality ofcorrugations which are subsequently filled and sealed and thereafterslit into individual shaker dispenser type packets. A continuing problemin machines of .this general type has been encountered in the fillingoperation of the individual flutes of the ribbon as it is rapidlyadvanced beneath the filler mechanism. Variations in the particle size,packing tendency, and tendency of the particulated material toagglomerate has heretofore caused difiiculty in controlling the quantityof material which is filled in each of the individual flutes of thefluted ribbon moving relative to the filling mechanism. This problem hasbeen aggravated by an increased rate of travel of the fluted ribbon,causing erratic non-uniform filling of the flutes thereof, resulting ineither an overfilling or under-filling of the packages and lack ofuniformity of fill in each of the four flutes that comprise the packetor unit. An over-filling of such packages not only interferes in thesubsequent sealing of the packages after the filling operation but alsoconstitutes a substantial waste of the pulverant material which in thecase of certain high cost spices and the like constitutes a significantcost factor. On the other hand, an underfil-ling of the flutes of thepackages is objectionable in not providing a sufficient quantity of thematerial for an individual serving and moreover results in the rejectionof such packages resulting further scrappage "and waste. The lack ofuniformity in the amount of material in the plurality of flutescomprising each packet is also objectionable from an appearancestandpoint as well as in interfering in the dispensing characteristicsthereof.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to providean improved filling apparatus which provides a controlled continuouscurtain of pulverulent material which overcomes the disadvantages offilling apparatuses of similar type heretofore known. 7

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedfilling apparatus which can be readily regulated to vary the quantity ofpulverant material delivered consistent with the nature of the pulverantmaterial and the size, shape, and filling characteristics of thepackages to be filled.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedfilling apparatus, the rate of feed of which can be automatically andselectively controlled to provide a controlled filling of a rapidlymoving fluted ribbon within relatively narrow tolerances, achievingthereby uni- 3,199,551 Patented Aug. 1%, 1955 ice formity in theindividual packages and the individual compartments thereof andsubstantially eliminating any waste of relatively high cost condiments,spices, and the like.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionare accomplished by providing a filler mechanism including a trough orhopper provided with a substantially cylindrical shaft rotatably mountedand eX- tending longitudinally along the base thereof and which shaft isformed with a plurality of indentations or depressions therealong inwhich the pulverant material to be fed into the rapidly moving ribbontherebelow is transferred in a preselected metered amount from theinterior of the hopper and discharged in the form of a uniform,substantially solid planar curtain of material which is directed intothe openings of the fluted ribbon. The rate of feed of the pulverantmaterial is readily controlled by varying the speed of rotation of thecylindrical shaft providing thereby a controlled filling of the packageswithin a preselected range. It is further contemplated within the scopeof the present invention that suitable sensing means can be provided forsensing the depth of fill of the packages as they pass from the fillermechanism and which sensing means is operatively connected to controlmeans for varying the speed of rotation of the cylindrical shafteffecting thereby controlled variations in the rate of feed so as tocontrol the depth and/or volume of fill of the individual compartmentsof the packages within a preselected range.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon a reading of the specifications taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of an exemplary packaging machine to which thepresent invention is applicable;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is anenlarged fragmentary side elevation View of a typicalfluted ribbon or strip which is produced in accordance with the machineshown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the fluted ribbon shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a typical individual packet containingthe pulverant material sealed therein;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation view of the feedmechanism employed in the machine shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal sectional View of the hopper and feed shaft ofthe feed mechanism shown in FIGURE 6 and taken along with the line 7-'7thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the hopper and feedshaft arrangement shown in FIGURE 6 and taken along the line 88 thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view of an alternate satisfactoryarrangement from that shown in F1"- URE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternate satisfactoryfeed shaft from that shown in FIG- URES 7-9; and

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic view of a typical wiring circuit forproviding automatic control of the feeding mechanism in accordance witha suitable sensing apparatus.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and as may be best seen inFIGURES 1 and 2, an exemplary machine to which the present invention isapplicable comprises a pair of cooperating rolls 20, 22 Which aremounted for rotation about horizontal axes and which are provided with aseries of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending conjugateprojections 24 and recesses 26 which are substantially semi-circular incross section. The projections 24 and recesses 26 are arranged in aseries usually ranging from about 2 up to about 6 and are separated byspaces greater than those between the projections of each series formingplanar web sections at which the continuous ribbon is severed, forming aplurality of individual packages. A continuous strip 32 is supplied froma roll of feed mate- .rial 23 rotatably supported on a mounting 3t) andextends therefrom over a guide roll 34 and is guidably positioned in aguide shoe 36 which in the exemplary embodiment shown is positioned inaxial alignment with the bite portion of the cooperating rolls 2t), 22.The strip 32 is fed continuously between the cooperating rolls 20, 22and is formed into a corrugated material having a cross sectionalconfiguration corresponding to the projections 24 and recesses 26 on theperipheral surfaces of the cooperating rolls.

A second continuous strip 3% extends from a feed roll 40 rotatablymounted on a support 42 and passes around a guide roller 44 and ispositioned around the periphery of a roll 46 disposed in rolling contactwith the cooperating roll 22 as shown in FIGURE 2. The second continuousstrip 38 is disposed in overlying contact with the corrugated strip 32at the bite portion of the cooperating roll 22 and the roll 46 and thestrips are tenaciously united to each other such as by means of asuitable adhesive or, in accordance with the preferred practice of thepresent invention, by heat sealing the two strips together. For thispurpose the mating surfaces of the continuous strips 32, 38 can beprovided with a thin coating of a suitable thermoplastic resin materialsuch as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, for example which on comingin contact with heated rolls 22 and 46 effects a softening thereofproviding mutual adherence between the strips and which on subsequentcooling form a tenacious bond. The rolls 22 and 46 may also be providedwith crimping flanges along one of the mating sides thereof oralternatively a pair of crimping rolls 47 are provided for compressingand forming a sealed edge 48 along one edge of a composite fluted ribbon52 as best seen in FIGURE 3.

The composite fluted ribbon 52 having a configuration as shown in FIGURE3 is stripped from the periphery of the cooperating roll 22 and passesover a guide roll 50 and is twisted toward a vertical position with thesealing edge 48 oriented downwardly. The fluted ribbon 52 as shown inFIGURES 3 and 4 comprises a substantially flat planar rear webcomprising the strip 38 and a corrugated web comprised of a series offlutes or cells 54 separated by elongated planar web sections 56 whichis comprised of the strip 32 and which strips 32, 38 are tenaciouslyunited to each other along their points of juncture. The lower portionof the flutes 54 are sealed by the sealing edge 48 and the upper endportions of the flutes 54 are positioned to receive the material orcommodity contained in a filler mechanism generally indicated at 58 inFIG- URES 1 and 2.

The fiuted ribbon 52 is advanced in a substantially upright positionbeneath the filler mechanism 58 from which the pulverant material isdischarged filling each of the flutes or cells 54 to a pre-selectedlevel. The filled fluted ribbon 52 thereafter passes between a pair ofsealing rolls 60 which is operative to compress and adhesively or heat.sealingly bond the upper edge of the fluted ribbon along a flatwebsections 56 thereof. A resultant severed individual package is shownin FIGURE 5 comprising a series of flutes 54 in which a pulverantcommodity is her- -metically sealed. The flutes 54 may be provided witha series of transverse slits or perforations indicated at 72 tofacilitate subsequent rupture of the package for shaking or dispensingthe contents therefrom during use.

It will be apparent from the mode of operation as hereinabove set forth,that the rapid speed of movement of the continuous fluted ribbon 52beneath the filler mechanism 58 necessitates careful control to assurethe filling of each of the flutes or cells 54 thereof with a prescribedquantity of the pulverant material. The improved filler mechanism forachieving a uniform controlled filling of each of the individual fluteswill now be described with particular reference to FIGURES 6-8. As isbest seen in FIGURE 6, the filler mechanism is mounted within a suitablehousing indicated generally at 74 which is formed at its lower end withan angularly inclined base 75 in which the pulverant commodity to befilled in the fluted ribbon is stored and is transferred to a fillerhopper indicated at 76 by a bucket conveyor 78. The bucket conveyor 78as shown comprises a pair of rolls 80 which are mounted for rotationabout horizontal axes and around which a continuous belt 82 is drivinglytrained on the periphery of which a plurality of longitudinally spacedbuckets 84 are mounted. In accordance with this arrangement thepulverant material which is stored in the base of the housing 74 and anypulverant material which spills over the fluted ribbon 52 and iscollected in the base of the housing is continuously transferred to thefiller hopper 76 thereby insuring a continuous supply of material.

The continuous fluted ribbon 52 passes beneath the filler hopper 76 andis supported in an appropriate upright and longitudinally alignedposition relative to the base thereof by means of an inlet guide shoe 36and outlet guide shoe 88 as best seen in FIGURE 6. Between the inletguide shoe 86 and outlet guide shoe 88 the continuous fluted ribbon 52is supported along the lower edge thereof by means of a plurality oflongitudinally spaced collars 90 which are fixed to and projectoutwardly from a support plate 92 as may be best seen in FIGURE 8. Thesupport plate 92 is adjustably positioned beneath the lower edge portionof the filler hopper 76 by means of rearwardly extending brackets 94provided with slots 96 for adjustably securing the support plate to theframe of the machine, such as by means of socket head screw 98. Thesupport p ate 92 is slightly angularly inclined relative to the verticaland the continuous fluted ribbon 52 is disposed with the flat planar webthereof disposed in flat sliding contact with the forward face of thesupport plate. The upper edge portion of the face of the support plate92 is provided with a longitudinally extending shield 100 which is of athickness substantially greater than the thickness of the planar web ofthe continuous fluted ribbon so as to prevent the granular materialdischarged from the filler hopper from entering and becoming lodgedbetween the face surface of the support plate 92 and the rear surface ofthe planar web disposed in sliding bearing contact thereagainst.

The continuous fluted ribbon 52 is maintained in sliding relationshipagainst the face of the support plate 92 by means of a longitudinallyextending guide bracket 102 which is securely mounted to the lower edgedportion of the support plate and is formed with a pair of longitudinallyextending rods 104 adapted to be disposed in sliding bearing contactwith the crests of the flutes 54 of the fluted ribbon 52.

In the embodiment as shown in FIGURES 6-8 the filler hopper '76 isformed with a pair of inwardly converging walls Itlfi along the loweredges of which a pair of angle iron reinforcing stringers 108, arerigidly secured. -A longitudinally extending feed roll or shaft 112 isrotatably journaled in bearings 114 mounted in the end walls of thefiller hopper '76 and is disposed in longitudinal alignment and closingrelationship in an elongated outlet or opening 116 formed in the base ofthe filler hopper. The feed shaft 112 as shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8 isformed with a plurality of longitudinally extending depressions 118which are preferably of a smooth arcuate configuration such as forexample, a

semi-circular configuration and which are adapted to be filled with theparticulated material in the hopper effecting a metered transfer thereofin response to rotation of the feed shaft out through the opening 116.The combination of the close arcuate spacing of the depressions 113 andthe rapid rotation of the shaft effects a discharge of the material inthe form of a substantially continuous curtain indicated at 1211 inFIGURE 8 which is directed against and impinges on the shield 10% fromwhich the material enters the upper open end portions of the flutes 54of the fluted ribbon 52.

The sealing of the feed shaft 112 within the base of the filler hopperis achieved by an arcuate shoe 122 as shown in FIGURE 8 which isdisposed in close clearance spaced relationship around the upperperipheral portion of the feed shaft 112. The arcuate shoe 122 isadjustably mounted by means of screws 124 to the downwardly extendingleg of the angle iron stringer 116.

The length of the arcuate shoe 122 is controlled so that the upper edgeportion thereof extends at least to a point corresponding to the uppercenter of the shaft so as to avoid any sifting of the pulverant materialwithin the hopper through the clearance space between the periphery ofthe feed shaft and the arcuate shoe during periods of non-use of theapparatus. By this arrangement, the inherent angle of repose of thepulverant material prevents its upward bow between the feed shaft andinner surface if the arcuate shoe. The lower edge portion of the arcuateshoe extends to a point relative to the periphery of feed shaft so as toguide the trajectory of the continuous curtain of material 121) toimpinge along the shield 1% above the open ends of the flutes 54.

The lower edge of the feed shaft 112 is sealed within the base of thefiller hopper 76 by means of a horizontally extending flange 126 formedwith an arcuately bent end portion indicated at 127 adapted to bedisposed in sliding sealing relationship against the lower portion ofthe shaft to prevent any sifting of material from the hop er outwardlythrough the opening 116 in the base of the filler hopper. The upwardinclination of the end portion 127 in combination with the natural angleof repose of the pulverant material prevents upward flow of the materialbetween the feed shaft and flange 126. In accordance with thearrangement as hereinabove described, it will be apparent that thedensity and quantity of pulverant material discharged from the fillerhopper in the form of the continuous curtain of material 12v) can beaccurately controlled in accordance with the speed of rotation of thefeed shaft 112. Selective controlled rotation of the feed shaft isachieved by suitable driving means drivingly coupled to the projectingend portion of the feed shaft as shown in FIG- UIIES 6 and 7 such as bymeans of a variable speed motor 128 which is drivingly coupled to aspeed reducer 130 which in turn is provided with a sprocket 132 on theoutput shaft thereof. A driven sprocket 134 is aflixed to the projectingend of the feed shaft 112 and is drivingly connected to the drivingsprocket 132 by means of a chain 136 trained therearound. Alternativesatisfactory variable speed drive means can also be satisfactorilyemployed in lieu of the variable speed motor 128 such as for example, avariable speed reducer (not shown) which is drivingly coupled betweenthe feed shaft and a constant speed motor for providing selectivevariation in the speed of rotation of the speed shaft.

It has been found that certain pulverant materials particularly spicessuch as pepper containing natural oils therein have a tendency to bridgewithin the filler hopper .and to adhere to the surfaces of thedepressions 118 of pulverant material in a flutfy free flowing state andto avoid any bridging tendency of the material. Rotation of the agitatorcan be accomplished by drivingly connecting the output shaft thereof tothe feed shaft such as by a belt or chain 137 trained around a pair ofpulleys or sprockets 139 which can be selectively coupled to theagitator shaft by means of a clutch 141 as best seen in FIGURE 6.

In addition a suitable transducer such as an air vibrator is secured tothe projecting end of the feed shaft 112 as best seen in FIGURE 7effecting vibration thereof and dislodging therefrom any pulverantmaterial which has a tendency to adhere to the surfaces of thedepressions 118. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGURE 7 thevibrator 140 is provided with a suitable swivel fitting 142 which isconnected to a conduit 144 for supplying a source of pressurized fluidthereto and enabling relative rotation of the vibrator and the supplyconduit. Alternate satisfactory vibratory means can be employed toeffect vibration of the feed shaft at a frequency sufficient to effectdislodgment of any particles having a tendency to adhere to thedepressions therealong. During the filling of pulverant material such assalt and sugar which do not have a bridging or adhering tendency thepaddle type agitator 13S and the vibrator 140 can be deenergized ifdesired.

An alternate satisfactory embodiment of the means for rotatably sealingthe feed shaft in the base of the filler hopper is illustrated in FIGURE9 wherein similar parts are designed by the same numeral previouslyemployed with a prime affixed thereto. As shown in FIGURE 9 a fillerhopper 76 formed with inwardly converging walls 106' is reinforced alongthe lower edge thereof by means of a pair of angle iron stringers 198,119'. A feed shaft 112 is rotatably mounted in an opening 116 in thebase of the filler hopper. A longitudinally extending resilient seal 146of a material such as rubber for example is adjustably mounted on thestringer 1% and is disposed with the lower edge thereof in bearingsealing contact against the periphery of the feed shaft 112'. The seal146 is of a thickness sufficient to overlie the lands between theadjacent depressions 118 in the periphery of the feed shaft to avoid anysifting of the pulverant material in the feed hopper therebetween. Asimilar seal 148 is adjustably affixed to the stringer 11% and isdisposed in sliding bearing contact against the periphery of the feedshaft which effects a .doctoring of the material on the periphery of thefeed shaft and a wiping of the material from the lands between adjacentdepressions. An arcuate shoe 122 is disposed adjacent to the seal 143serving to support the lower edge thereof and further providing guidanceof the trajectory of pulverant material directed toward the shield 10!)of the support plate 92' as fragmentarily shown in FIGURE 9. The feedshaft 112' is adapted to be driven at variable speeds in a manner ashereinbefore described in connection with the embodiment shown inFIGURES 6-8.

An alternative satisfactory embodiment of a feed shaft 112 isfragmentarily shown in FIGURE 10. As shown in FIGURE 10, the peripheralsurface of the feed shaft 112 is provided with a plurality ofindentations 149 which are disposed in a substantially uniform patternalong the entire length of the feed shaft. Each of the v.de ressions 149are of a snbstantiall smooth concave configuration and are adapted tobecome filled with the pulverant commodity during rotation of the feedshaft within the hopper. The material within the depressions isdischarged therefrom as the depressions become exposed along the openingin the base of the filler hopper. The

use of a suitable embossed pattern on the periphery of the feed shaftsuch as the depressions 149 can be satisfactorily employed in lieu ofthe longitudinal depressions 118, 113' as shown and previously describedin connection with FIGURES 7-9. It is also contemplated within the scopeof the present invention that the longitudinally extending depressions118, 113' can be formed in a helical pattern extending around theperiphery of the feed shaft. In either case, the depressions in theperiphery of the feed shaft are located substantially uniformlytherearound and therealong so that the pulverant material is dischargedin the form of a continuous planar curtain of substantially constantintensity along its entire length.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the volume of materialdelivered from the filler hopper is established by the speed of rotationof the feed shaft in further consideration of such variables as thediameter of the feed shaft, the cross sectional area of each of thedepressions 118, 118, or 149 therealong, as well as the length of thefeed shaft. By forming the seals in close sealing relationship againstthe periphery of the feed shaft, only a negligible quantity of pulverantmaterial is carried on the periphery of the feed shaft outwardly of thesurface of the lands therearound. Accordingly the volume of materialdischarged from the filling hopper corresponds substantially to thevolume carried in each of the depressions and the peripheral speed ofthe feed shaft. In a typical commercial embodiment it has been foundthat by forming a feed shaft having a diameter of about one inchprovided with about semi-circular grooves extending therealong of adiameter of about /s inch and which shaft extends for a length of about18 inches and rotates at a speed of about to rpm. has provided asubstantially uniform curtain of finely particulated material sufficientto fill a continuously moving fluted ribbon of the type shown in FIGURE3 traveling at a speed ranging from about 90 to about 110 feet perminute.

The degree of fill of the fluted ribbon can be manually adjusted orcontrolled by employing an illuminator box 150 as shown in FIGURE 6employing a series of lamps 152 therein which are adapted to illuminatethe continuous fluted ribbon 52 enabling visual inspection of the levelof material in the flutes thereof. The particular color of illuminationcan be selected to provide the best visual observation of the depth ofthe material within the flutes. An index or reference line indicated at153 is preferably provided to establish the desired height of fill ofthe flutes. By this arrangement an operator can manually adjust asuitable variable rheostat 154 for varying the speed of rotation of thevariable speed motor 128 to control the speed of rotation of the feedshaft and thereby provide the requisite filling rate to achieve thedesired depth of fill.

The use of an illuminator box 150 is restricted to continuous flutedribbons which are either transparent or translucent to enable visualexamination of the depth of fill thereof.

It is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention thatthe level of fill of the flutes can be automatically controlled inaccordance with the system diagrammatically shown in FIGURE. 11. Asshown in FIGURE 11 the variable speed motor 128 is electrically suppliedfrom an alternating current source 154 which first passes through a fullwave rectifier bridge indicated at 156 and through a variable resistorindicated at 158 which provides for control of the speed of rotation ofthe motor 128. The motor 128 as previously described is coupled to aspeed reducer 130 which in turn is drivingly coupled to the feed shaft112. As the continuous fluted ribbon 52 passes from beneath the fillerhopper 76 it passes between an emitter 169 such as a beta ray emitter,for example, which is effective to penetrate through the material ofwhich the fluted ribbon is comprised. The rays which are transmittedthrough the ribbon are received in a sensor or receiver 162 of the typewell known in the art disposed on the opposite side of the flutedribbon. The intensity of the beam received by the receiver 162 iscorrelated to the degree of fill of the flutes of the continuous flutedribbon. The signal received by the receiver 162 is in turn transmittedto an amplifier analyzer 164 of the type well known in the art which inturn is electrically connected to a control servo mechanism such as astepping motor or selsyn system indicated at 166 which is operable toadjust the variable resistor 153 to correct the speed of rotation of themotor 128 to either increase or decrease the speed of rotation of thefeed shaft consistent with an overfllling or underfilling conditionproviding thereby the requisite corrective action.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of theinvention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects abovestated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging apparatus including a frame, guide means on said framefor movably and guidably supporting a continuous fluted ribbon defininga plurality of containers moving rapidly therealong, a filler mechanismon said frame for dispensing a controlled volume of a finelyparticulated solid material into the containers, said filler mechanismincluding a hopper formed with an elongated aperture in the base thereofdisposed in overlying alignment with the direction of travel of thecontainers being filled, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in saidhopper and disposed in closing relationship in said aperture, said shaftformed with a plurality of depressions extending substantially uniformlyalong the peripheral surface thereof, drive means for rotating saidshaft in said aperture and for discharging the material carried in saiddepressions from the interior of said hopper in the form of asubstantially uniform planar curtain into the containers movingtherebelow, a receptacle disposed below the containers for receiving theparticulated solid material which is not intercepted by the containers,and conveyor means for returning the material from said receptacle tosaid hopper.

2. A packaging apparatus including a frame, guide means on said framefor movably and guidably supporting a continuous fluted ribbon defininga plurality of containers moving rapidly therealong, a filler mechanismon said frame for dispensing a controlled volume of a finelyparticulated solid material into the containers, said filler mechanismincluding a hopper formed with an elongated aperture in the base thereofdisposed in overlying alignment with the direction of travel of thecontainers being filled, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in saidhopper and disposed in closing relationship in said aperture, said shaftformed with a plurality of depressions extending substantially uniformlyalong the peripheral surface thereof, variable drive means for rotatingsaid shaft in said aperture and for discharging the material carried insaid depressions from the interior of said hopper in the form of asubstantially uniform planar curtain into the containers movingtherebelow, means for controlling the speed of rotation of said shaftfor controlling the discharge volume of said material, a receptacledisposed below the containers for receiving the particulated solidmaterial which is not intercepted by the containers, and conveyor meansfor returning the material from said receptacle to said hopper.

3. Apackaging apparatus including a frame, guide means on said frame formovably and guidably supporting a continuous fluted ribbon defining aplurality of containers moving rapidly therealong, a filler mechanism onsaid frame fordispensing a controlled volume of a finely particulatedsolid material into the containers, said filler mechanism including ahopper formed with an elongated aperture in the base thereof disposed inoverlying alignment with the direction of travel of the containers.being filled, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in said hopper anddisposed in closing relationship in said aperture, said shaft formedwith a plurality of depressions extending substantially uniformly alongthe peripheral surface thereof, drive means for rotating said shaft insaid aperture and for discharging the material carried in saiddepressions from the interior of said hopper in the form of asubstantially uniform planar curtain into the containers movingtherebelow, agitator means in said hopper for agitating the materialtherein, maintaining it in a substantially free-flowing state, areceptacle disposed below the containers for receiving the particulatedsolid material which is not intercepted by the containers, and conveyormeans for returning the material from said receptacle to said hopper.

4. A packaging apparatus including a frame, guide means on said framefor movably and guidably supporting a continuous fluted ribbon defininga plurality of containers moving rapidly therealong, a filler mechanismon said frame for dispensing a controlled volume of a finelyparticulated solid material into the containers, said filler mechanismincluding a hopper formed with an elongated aperture in the base thereofdisposed in overlying alignment with the direction of travel of thecontainers being filled, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in saidhopper and disposed in closing relationship in said aperture, said shaftformed with a plurality of depressions extending substantially uniformlyalong the peripheral surface thereof, drive means for rotating saidshaft'in said aperture and for discharging the material carried in saiddepressions from the interior of said hopper in the form of asubstantially uniform planar curtain into the containers movingtherebelow, vibratory means operatively connected to said shaft forvibrating said shaft to facilitate dislodgment of the material in saidde ressions and discharge thereof through said aperture, a-receptacledis posed below the containers for receiving the particulated solidmaterial which is not intercepted by the containers, and conveyor meansfor returning the material from said receptacle to said hopper.

5. A packaging apparatus including a frame, guide means on said framefor movably and guidably supporting a continuous fiuted ibbon defining aplurality of containers moving rapidly therealong, a filler mechanism onsaid frame for dispensing a controlled volume of a finely particulatedsolid material into the containers, said filler mechanism including ahopper formed with an elongated aperture in the base thereof disposed inoverlying alignment with the direction of travel of the containers beingfilled, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in said hopper and disposedin closing relationship in said aperture, said shaft formed with aplurality of depressions extending substantially uniformly along theperipheral surface thereof, drive means for rotating said shaft in saidaperture and for discharging the material carried in said dcpressionsfrom the interior of said hop, er in the form of a substantially uniformplanar curtain into the containers moving therebelow, deflector meansmounted adjacent to said aperture and said shaft for guiding thedirection of said uniform planar curtain of material toward thecontainers, a receptacle disposed below the containers for receiving theparticulated solid material which is not intercepted by the containers,and conveyor means for returning the material from said receptacle tosaid hopper.

6. A packaging apparatus including a frame, guide means on said framefor movably and guidably supporting a continuous fluted ribbon defininga plurality of containers moving rapidly therealong, a filler mechanismon said frame for dispensing a controlled volume of a finelyparticulated solid material into the containers, said filler mechanismincluding a hopper formed with an elongated aperture in the base thereofdisposed in overlying alignment with the direction of travel of thecontainers being filled, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in saidhopper and disposed in closing relationship in said aperture, said shaftformed with a plurality of depressions extending substantially uniformlyalong the peripheral surface thereof, variable drive means for rotatingsaid shaft in said aperture and for discharging the material carried insaid depessions from the interior of said hopper in the form of asubstantially uniform planar curtain into the containers movingtherebelow, agitator means for agitating the material in said hopper,maintaining it in a free-flowing state, guide means disposed along saidaperture and said shaft for directionally guiding the direction ofdischarge of said uniform planar curtain of material,

vibratory means for vibrating said shaft to facilitate dislodgment ofthe material in said depressions thereof and discharge through saidaperture, means for controlling the speed of rotationof said shaft forcontrolling the discharge volume of said material, a receptacle disposedbelow the containers for receiving the particulated solid material whichis not intercepted by the containers, and conveyor means for returningthe material from said receptacle to said hopper.

7. A packaging apparatus including a frame, guide means on said framefor movably and guidably supporting a continuous fluted ribbon defininga plurality of containers moving rapidly therealong, a filler mechanismon said frame for dispending a controlled volume of a finelyparticulated solid material into the containers, said filler mechanismincluding a hopper formed with an elongated aperture in the base thereofdisposed in overlying alignment with the direction of travel of thecontainers being filled, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in saidhopper and disposed in closing relationship in said aperture,

said shaft formed with a plurality of depressions extendingsubstantially uniformly along the peripheral surface thereof, anelongated arcuate shield mounted on one wall of said hopper defining oneedge of said aperture and encircling a portion of the periphery of saidshaft, an arcuate upwardly directed lip on the opposite wall of saidhopper defining the opposite edge of said aperture and disposed inbearing contact against the periphery of said shaft, variable speeddrive means for rotating said shaft in a direction outwardly along saidarcuate shield for discharging the material carried in said depressionsin the form of a substantially uniform planar curtain, means forcontrolling the speed of rotation of said shaft for coutrolling thedischarge volume of said material, a receptacle disposed below thecontainers for receiving the particulated solid material which is notintercepted by the containers, and conveyor means for returning thematerial from said receptacle to said hopper.

8. A packaging apparatus including a frame, guide means on said framefor movably and guidably supporting a continuous fluted ribbon defininga plurality of containers moving rapidly therealong, a filler mechanismon said frame for dispensing a controlled volume of a finelyparticulated solid material into the containers, said filler mechanismincluding a hopper formed with an elongated aperture in the base thereofdisposed in overlying alignment with the direction of travel of thecontainers being filled, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in saidhopper and disposed in closing relationship in said aperture, said shaftformed with a plurality V of depressions extending substantiallyuniformly along the peripheral surface thereof, resilient seal meansextending along each edge of said aperture and disposed in slidingsealing relationship against the periphery of said shaft, an arcuateshield mounted on one wall of said hopper adjacent to the edge of saidaperture from which the material is discharged for guiding the directionof discharge of material therefrom, variable speed drive means forrotating said shaft and for discharging the material carried in saiddepressions from the interior of said hopper in the form of asubstantially uniform planar curtain, means for controlling the speed ofrotation of said shaft for controlling the volume of discharge of saidmaterial, a receptacle disposed below the containers for receiving theparticulated solid material which is not intercepted by the containers,and conveyor means for returning the material from said receptacle tosaid hopper.

9. A packaging apparatus including a frame, guide means on said framefor movably and guidably supporting a continuous fluted ribbon defininga plurality of com tainers moving rapidly therealong, a filler mechanismon 1 1 said frame for dispensing a controlled volume of a finelyparticulated solid material into the containers, said filler mechanismincluding a hopper formed with an elongated aperture in the base thereofdisposed in overlying alignment with the direction of travel of thecontainers being filled, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in saidhopper and disposed in closing relationship in said aperture, said shaftformed with a plurality of depressions extending substantially uniformlyalong the peripheral surface thereof, variable drive means for rotatingsaid shaft in said aperture and for discharging the material carried insaid depressions from the interior of said hopper in the form of asubstantially uniform planar curtain into the containers movingtherebelovv, sensing means for sensing the level of the particulatedmaterial in the containers, means operable in response to said sensingmeans for controlling the speed of rotation of said variable drive meansto control the volume of material discharged from said hopper and thelevel of fill of the containers within controlled limits, :1receptacle'dispo'sed below the containers for receiving the particulatedsolid material Which is not intercepted by the containers, and conveyormeans for returning the material from said receptacle to said hopper.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 189,583 4/77Stackpole 222312 X 1,090,120 3/14 Scott 222312 X 2,046,603 7/ 36Baumgardner 222-3 12 X 2,552,093 5/51 Gollbach et a1 222-312 2,696,33012/54 Fahrni 2224l0 X 2,826,020 3/58 Hoag 5329 X FOREIGN PATENTS 191,3388/57 Austria.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

1. A PACKAGING APPARATUS INCLUDING A FRAME, GUIDE MEANS ON SAID FRAMEFOR MOVABLY AND GUIDABLY SUPPORT ING A CONTINUOUS FLUTED RIBBON DEFININGA PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS MOVING RAPIDLY THEREALONG, A FILLER MECHANISMON SAID FRAME FOR DISPENSING A CONTROLLED VOLUME OF A FINELYPARTICULATED SOLID MATERIAL INTO THE CONTAINERS, SAID FILLER MECHANISMINCLUDING A HOPPER FORMED WITH AN ELONGATED APERTURE IN THE BASE THEREOFDISPOSED IN OVERLYING ALIGNMENT WITH THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THECONTAINERS BEING FILLED, AN ELONGATED SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAIDHOPPER AND DISPOSED IN CLOSING RELATIONSHIP IN WAID APERTURE, SAID SHAFTFORMED WITH A PLURALITY OF DEPRESSIONS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALY UNIFORMLYALONG THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE THEREOF, DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAIDSHAFT IN SAID APERTURE AND FOR DISCHARGING THE MATERIAL CARRIED IN SAIDDEPRESSIONS FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOPPER IN THE FORM OF ASUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM PLANAR CURTAIN INTO THE CONTAINERS MOVINGTHEREBELOW, A RECEPTACLE DISPOSED BELOW THE CONTAINERS FOR RECEIVING THEPARTICULATED SOLID MATERIAL WHICH IS NOT INTERCEPTED BY THE CONTAINERS,AND CONVEYOR MEANS FOR RETURNING THE MATERIAL FROM SAID RECEPTACLE TOSAID HOPPER.